Rupali Repale

Rupali Repale is an Indian Channel swimmer and swimming coach, recorded by the Channel Swimming Association under the name Rupali Ramdas Repale. She completed an England-to-France crossing on 15 August 1994 in 16 hours 7 minutes. The historical federation record gives her age as twelve, while the CSA’s own successful-swim page confirms both the completion and its youngest successful swimmer award for that year.

Her crossing was accompanied by pilot Michael Oram aboard Aegean Blue, with K. Coombes and N. Trusty recorded as observers. An Indian swimming statistical bulletin also includes the performance, identifying Maharashtra and the same direction and elapsed time.

Repale later developed a career in coaching and multisport. Her academy biography describes representing India in Asian triathlon competition and lists national youth and adventure awards. It also records swimming-coach training at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala and qualifications through the American Swimming Coaches Association and World Triathlon.

As founder and partner of the Rupali Repale Swimming Academy, she has worked on swimming instruction, school programmes and water-safety education. The academy marked its tenth year in 2024, connecting her experience as a young endurance swimmer with teaching subsequent generations.